Accusing the BJP-led Maharashtra government of “ignoring” the plight of farmers, opposition NCP on Sunday said it will launch a ‘jail-bharo’ agitation in the drought-hit Marathwada region on September 14 to highlight the troubles being faced by farmers.
After his tour of the affected region that concluded on August 16, NCP chief Sharad Pawar chaired a meeting of party leaders from the region to discuss solutions for the ongoing water crisis and the demands the party would be placing before the government.
“To bring to the government’s attention the plight of farmers, we will start a jail bharo (court-arrest) aandolan on September 14 in every district of Marathwada. We will also hold protests in the offices of district officers and tehsildars,” NCP state unit president Sunil Tatkare said.
He said the NCP wanted government to immediately waive off debts of farmers and make available drinking water for people and animals by increasing the number of tankers being sent to the region.
“The government should immediately start their own cattle sheds to take care of farmers,” Tatkare said.
He also demanded that government exempt children of farmers from paying fees and make arrangement for their meals.
“The government also needs to waive off electricity bills of farmers and implement the MGNREGA scheme on farmers’ fields so that they can get some productive work to do,” he said.
The senior NCP leader also asked government to ensure that farmers get at least Rs. 25 for every litre of milk being sold by farmers.
